** MutualFirst Financial's shares MFSF.O rise 19.8% to
$39.40, their highest in over a year
** Northwest Bancshares NWBI.O to acquire MFSF in an
all-stock deal valued at $39.89/share or about $346 mln
** As part of merger, one MutualFirst director will be added
to Northwest's bank and holding company boards urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nPn2PCW8Ca
** NWBI shares currently trading down 2.81% at $16.91
** Including sessions gains, MFSF has risen 48.1% this year
(Reporting by Ashwini Raj in Bengaluru)
((Ashwini.Raj@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780,
outside U.S. +91 80 6749 8878;))